Host-parasite molecular cross-talk during the manipulative process of a host by its parasite.

Arginase Activity and Its Effects on Pathogenesis of Leishmania

  Leishmaniasis is a tropical parasitic disease that has become a major health challenge in many countries of the world. Not only has not been found any effective vaccine or treatment for the disease eradication, but also the advent of drug resistance is also increasing. Therefore, it is vital to take a precise attention to the physiochemical cycles of the Leishmania parasite and to identify i...

Variation between populations and local adaptation in acanthocephalan-induced parasite manipulation.

Many trophically transmitted parasites manipulate their intermediate host phenotype, resulting in higher transmission to the final host. However, it is not known if manipulation is a fixed adaptation of the parasite or a dynamic process upon which selection still acts. In particular, local adaptation has never been tested in manipulating parasites. In this study, using experimental infections b...

Actinomyces bovis a possible cause for calcification of the parasite in the host tissue

Intraspecific variability in host manipulation by parasites.

Manipulative parasites have the capacity to alter a broad range of phenotypic traits in their hosts, extending from colour, morphology and behaviour. While significant attention has been devoted to describing the diversity of host manipulation among parasite clades, and testing the adaptive value of phenotypic traits that can be manipulated, there is increasing evidence that variation exists in...

Behavioural manipulation in a grasshopper harbouring hairworm: a proteomics approach.

The parasitic Nematomorph hairworm, Spinochordodes tellinii (Camerano) develops inside the terrestrial grasshopper, Meconema thalassinum (De Geer) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), changing the insect's responses to water. The resulting aberrant behaviour makes infected insects more likely to jump into an aquatic environment where the adult parasite reproduces. We used proteomics tools (i.e. two-dim...